Just passing by on this thread...but even though Kim Un can’t hit the US, he can certainly hit S. Korea’s capital with Chemical Weapons that would kill thousands in a matter of minutes.
It’s been said Kim has extra security (now) covering and protecting all the huge monuments honoring him and his father etc, ...because S.Korea has threatened if they get attacked they have targeted these, which to N.Koreans is a HUGE thing as they pay hommage to these statues and significant in their cult worship of Kim UN and his father.
But I wouldn’t underestimate N.Korean leadership, even if Kimmy is simply a figurehead...those guys are old and not about ready to let this latest ban on luxuries affect their lifestyles...without a fight...one way or another...they have nothing to loose by doing so.
I wasn’t aware NK has chemical weapons.
When the DEFCON level is raised for US troops in Korea, (or a comparable raising for South Korean troops), and they start refamiliarization of chem and bio suits for troops and families or doing family and US civilian evacs, you will probably know something is up. I agree. Norks couldn’t hit the continental USA if they tried, maybe Midway Island Atoll in the Pacific, I even doubt their accuracy, but they could wreak chem and bio havoc in Seoul over about 48 hours, nevertheless our B-2s and other assets would assassinate the entire leadership of North Korea in their bunkers, they would be fried to death down there, and we would also level all of their command and control AND statues of worship to the cult, in Pyongyang and other major cities. It would be a “failed state with nukes” an unsettling idea for a moment, for which the US has a plan jointly with Seoul, but China would really have to be watch... I imagine it would be a rush to get to and occupy smoldering Pyongyang first by the Chinese PLA coming blitzkreig style in from the north, and a joint US/South Korea crack force from the south.